Spear of Destiny by James Baldwin (little bear else holmelund minarik .TXT) 📕

but he didn’t say anything further as he stomped off to the edge of the clearing.

“Will you all be okay if we leave you here with Cutthroat?” I asked Ambrose. “We can come back with the materials Gar needs.”

“We will have to remain here as it is. The Forest Keepers will come here to examine the wreck, and we’ll need to buy them off.” The Mercurion crossed his burly arms over his chest. “Every crew member on this ship knows how to take care of themselves. Any Meewfolk who find us will probably be happy to assist, as long as we have a good story to tell and we split our liquor with them. They might be able to help with your hookwing. Her species are held in high regard here.”

“We really didn’t know she was preggers,” Suri insisted. “She chased off the male who tried to… who did knock her up.”

“It happens.” Ambrose shrugged. “We will watch her and her eggs. Despite what the captain says, you paid us a lot to come here. He’ll get over it once he notices his bank account.”

“Right.” I rubbed the sweat off the back of my neck and pulled my helmet on. “Well, ready to go, everyone? This Warsinger isn’t getting any less ancient and fucked up, and neither are we.”

Chapter 38

We picked up an escort about ten miles out of Ru Waat: Eight huge pterosaurs with brightly colored wings and crests, who glided effortlessly into a formation around Karalti. The birds were fast enough to keep up with us, and the Meewfolk braves who rode them kept their bows aimed steadily at our faces.

“Humans! This is the land of our People!” The leader of the wing called out to us in his native tongue, his voice magically augmented to be heard over the wind. “Order your dragon to land, and we will parley! Refuse, and we’ll drive you back to the ocean!”

“Let’s talk!” I held my hands up. “We come in peace, seeking audience with the Priest-Queen of Ru Waat.”

The squad leader replied by pointing down at the ground, then leaned away from us. His mount swooped off to the right and up, blocking the sun over our heads.

“Damn. I think this is the first time we’ve ever been intercepted by other fliers,” I remarked to Karalti. “Let’s go to ground, Tidbit. This is their turf.”

“Yup! Sure is!” Karalti dropped her wing and began her descent.

The scouts tracked us all the way through the landing, alighting in a ring around Karalti as she touched ground. Suri, Rin and Gar watched nervously as I slid down my dragon’s shoulder and leaped lightly to the ground. The Meewfolk dismounted, too: eight slender, well-muscled, lightly armored Meewfolk braves. They were nude except for their fine jewelry: silver and gold torques, bracelets, and rings that glittered with magical energy. Four of the eight had slender lances tipped with blue-steel points, the weapons rippling with faint sheens of mana. The others fielded large compound bows that looked strong enough to punch through an elephant’s skull. The arrows were made from some kind of enchanted glass. My HUD identified these men as [Meewfolk Forest Guardians]. They had purple skulls next to their names, which meant they were at least Level 40.

“You speak the language, human? How interesting.” The [Forest Guardian Captain] said. He still had an arrow resting loosely on his bowstring. “Humans and a Mercurion with a dragon, at least one of whom speaks and understands our tongue. Consider my curiosity piqued.”

“We made a point to learn your language before coming here, the better to speak with your Queen on her terms,” I said, keeping my hands raised. “We have a matter of international importance to discuss with her.”

“International importance? Well!” The captain looked back at his squad, who burst into a chorus of hissing laughter. “That is very, very important, isn’t it? And what kind of important human are you to be delivering such important news to such important people?”

“Dragozin Hector, a Count of Vlachia,” I said. “And the-”

“Vlachia?” The Captain interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “The country which reviles our orphans and exiles? That traps them in ghettos, and forces them to live in filth?”

“The previous king did,” I said, quickly. “The new king, Ignas Corvinus, is an ally of the Meewfolk, as am I.”

“Ignas is a master thief,” Suri called from Karalti’s back. She was still strapped into her saddle. “Worked his way up the ranks of the Nightstalkers of Taltos. You heard of ‘em?”

“I have,” one of the other Forest Guardians piped up. “My mainlander cousin is in that syndicate.”

“A human king, gaining the rank of Master? In a syndicate of our folk?” The Captain’s tail flicked, and he dropped the point of the arrow a little more. “Now THAT is a story to tease the ears of our Queen. She will surely want to know how he accomplished that.”

“I was about to say.” I tried to laugh it off. “And we need to ask the Priest-Queen for her wisdom and knowledge on the subject of the Drachan.”

“The Drachan?” The Captain’s tail lashed. “Those are the concerns of the priestesses. I know nothing of such things. Our Priest-Queen might be able to tell you what she knows, but she is just as liable to take you as her slaves if she senses you are weak… or lying.”

“Then we have nothing to worry about,” I replied. “Do we?”

“You do. She is the strongest warrior of our people, and the strongest of the Priest-Queens. Her eyes flash with the fire of the sun, and she drinks the blood of men who trespass on her territory,” the Captain said. “We will escort you to the gates of Ru Waat, and if our women decide to permit you into the city, you will go. But if they do not, we